Speed Fat Burn and Tame Stress: The Benefits of Oolong Tea for Women Over 50
By now, we know we should be drinking more tea. After all, it has a slew of potential health benefits and it’s a tasty addition to our daily water intake. If you ask most people what they prefer, they’ll likely answer either green tea or black tea. But research suggests giving a third type of tea another look: oolong tea. Here, we’re diving into all the oolong tea benefits, from the delightful flavor to the host of health perks you can get from sipping the brew on a regular basis.
What is oolong tea?
“Oolong tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant, which is the exact same plant used to make green teas and black teas,” says Lena Bakovic, MS, RDN, CNSC, a registered dietitian nutritionist with Top Nutrition Coaching. The difference is in the length of time that the dried leaves are fermented. To make oolong tea, a traditional Chinese tea, the leaves are fermented longer than green tea leaves but for less time than black tea leaves. That makes it a semi-oxidized or semi-fermented tea. In this way, oolong tea is almost a combination of green and black teas, offering some benefits of both varieties.
What does oolong tea taste like?
The taste of oolong tea also falls somewhere between the grassy, floral flavor of green tea and the rich, slightly bitter flavor of black tea. The flavors of oolong teas differ depending on how much fermentation, or oxidation, the leaves have undergone. Low oxidation oolong teas are lighter in color and sweeter, medium oxidation teas are richer and fruitier and high oxidation oolongs are darker and nuttier.
What’s more, the same batch of oolong tea leaves can be steeped multiple times, and the flavor will change slightly with each infusion.
Oolong tea boasts powerful nutrients
“We know that green teas are a source of dietary antioxidants, and oolong tea is no different,” says Bakovic. “Polyphenols are the main types of antioxidants present in this tea. One of the main health benefits of antioxidants is that they work to scavenge cancer-producing free radicals with the body.”
A study in the journal Antioxidants found that oolong tea generally boasts more antioxidants than white tea and black tea, while delivering slightly fewer than green tea.
“While there are several polyphenols, the most concentrated in oolong tea are known as catechins like EGCG," notes physician and wellness coach Simran Malhotra, MD, the founder of Wellness By LifestyleMD in Bethesda, MD. "These are found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and anticancer benefits." But antioxidants are not the only compounds that give oolong tea its health-boosting benefits.
“Oolong tea also has antimicrobial benefits,” Dr. Malhotra adds. “The tea polysaccharides boost its antioxidant and anticancer effects, while the amino acids [like L-theanine] are great for brain protection and can even improve memory.”
The brew also contains caffeine, roughly half as much per cup as coffee. And while some of its health benefits — such as the way it may help with weight loss and fat burning — can be attributed in part to the caffeine, it's also something to be aware of before you drink it. “Children, pregnant or nursing women or any people that are sensitive to caffeine should be careful,” says Dr. Malhotra.
4 health benefits of oolong tea
“Oolong tea is loved worldwide for its health benefits,” says Dr. Malhotra. Here are four study-proven perks you can get from sipping the brew.
1. Oolong tea lowers blood sugar
“Oolong tea, like other teas, is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols,” Dr. Malhotra says. “Polyphenols have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, which is important in reducing risk of type 2 diabetes.” Indeed, a study in the journal Diabetes Care found that people with type 2 diabetes who drank oolong tea daily for 30 days lowered their blood sugar levels by 29%. What’s more, a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that daily tea consumption of any kind was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
2. Oolong tea boosts fat burn
Oolong tea can help with weight loss and with shedding body fat. So say researchers reporting in the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, who found that 70% of overweight and obese people who sipped 4 cups of oolong tea daily for six weeks lost at least 2.2 pounds, while 22% of subjects lost more than 6.6 pounds without making any other changes. In addition, a significant number of people saw reductions in body fat concentration.
“Oolong tea contains catechins like EGCG which can increase the body's metabolic rate and boost calorie burning,” explains Dr. Malhotra. “It also contains caffeine, which can increase our body's energy expenditure. And lastly, oolong tea optimizes fat cell breakdown and improves insulin sensitivity, which can aid weight loss. The payoff: Research in The Journal of Nutrition found that drinking oolong tea increased daily calorie burn by roughly 67 calories compared to drinking plain water. That may not sound like much on it's own, but it's an effortless way to burn more than 450 extra calories a week.
3. Oolong tea safeguards the heart
Oolong tea lowers triglycerides and cholesterol to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. In fact, a study in the journal Stroke found that people who drank 1 to 2 cups of oolong tea daily were at the lowest risk for developing a stroke. Dr. Malhotra credits the antioxidants and polyphenols, which reduce the oxidative stress and inflammation that can increase risk of heart disease.
Plus a review in Japanese Pharmacology & Therapeutics found that oolong tea suppressed the spike in triglyceride levels following a high-fat meal. That’s important, because experiencing these spikes often increases the risk for heart disease.
4. Oolong tea relieves stress
The L-theanine in oolong tea has powerful effects on stress and mental health. A study in Nutrients found that four weeks of L-theanine consumption significantly reduced measures of stress, anxiety and depression. Plus it improved sleep quality and cognitive function. “Tea is packed with several amino acids, but theanine stands out as the special one,” Dr. Malhotra says. “It is great for brain protection. It's a natural analog of key neurotransmitters like glutamate and glutamine, which are important for long term memory. It promotes relaxation, mental focus and memory.”
How to drink oolong tea to get the health benefits
You can buy oolong tea bags at any supermarket. But if you want to brew it multiple times to experience the different levels of flavor, go for loose leaf. “I like to buy my loose-leaf tea from the local grocery store,” says Dr. Malhotra. While oolong tea is not as popular in the US as green or black tea, you should be able to find it at your local supermarket. If you prefer to order online, Vahdam Teas High Mountain Oolong Tea is highly rated.
“I drink it as is, steeped in water without any additives,” Dr. Malhotra adds. That said, adding a splash of milk or a touch of sweetener to your oolong tea won’t negate the benefits.
Discover more total-body health benefits of a variety of teas:
These Teas End Bloating Fast — Learn How to Blend Them to Boost the Benefits
Fennel Tea Can Ease Bloat, Calm Stress + Boost Sleep — How to Brew It for Pennies
These Teas Ease Allergies Naturally + the Timing Trick That Boosts the Benefit
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
